THE Labour Party candidate who was defeated in a regional council

election by one vote has abandoned legal action taken over claims of a

spoiled ballot paper.

Mr George Barr lost the Tayside Regional Council Whitfield ward in

Dundee with 894 votes compared with the 895 polled by the SNP's sitting

councillor James Duthie.

On Monday at Perth Sheriff Court, Sheriff Principal John J. Maguire

granted an application on behalf of Mr Barr to examine one ballot paper.

After the inspection yesterday, Mr Michael McGinley, solicitor for Mr

Barr, said: ''Having had the opportunity to examine the disputed ballot

paper I can confirm that on my advice Mr Barr does not intend to proceed

further with this matter.''